Monday COVID Update: Numbers seem to give Governor positive outlook for re-opening decisions

Here are some Key Notes, Statistics, and Video for Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson’s news update on the COVID-19 pandemic. Governor Hutchinson welcomed Dr. Nate Smith, State Secretary of Health.

The Governor presented several graphs for the state’s progress and he seemed to be pointing to reasons for making decisions to begin to opening things in the near future. He reviewed the gating criteria coinciding with the “Opening Up America” phases the White House released. With decision dates coming in the next week, a set of three categories of criteria must be met.

Proposed state or regional gating criteria we must satisfy before proceeding to phased opening:

SYMPTOMS

Downward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) reported within a 14-day period AND
Downward trajectory of covid-19 syndromic cases reported within a 14-day period

CASES

Downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period OR
Downward trajectory of positive test as a percent of total test within a 14-day period (flat or increasing volume of tests

HOSPITALS

Treat all patients without crisis care AND
Robust testing program in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing

“We are on a downward slope but we haven’t been there for 14 days, and that’s important,” stated Hutchinson. “That’s what they talked about nationally, some states open up, and you haven’t been on a downward trajectory for 14 days. I’ll remind everyone that there is flexibility that’s given to the states.”

: Number of new COVID-19 cases in Arkansas.

: Number of COVID-19 tests by date of test result and testing facility type April 24-26.

: Percent of daily ER visits for COVID-19-like illness (ESSENCE) in Arkansas.

: Percent of weekly outpatient visits for influenza-like illness (ILINet) in Arkansas.

: Percent of COVID-19 positive tests by date of result in Arkansas.

Dr. Nate Smith, State Secretary of Health listed the current statistics for COVID-19 patients below:

50 deaths, up 1
2941 cases yesterday
3017 cases, up 76
60 new cases in community
Cummins Prison
- 16 new cases
- 856 total inmates cases
- 50 total staff cases
Nursing Homes
- 203 residents cases
- 15 staff cases
317 total health care worker cases, up 13
109 currently hospitalized, up 2
25 currently on a ventilator, up 3
Tests Results During Surge
- 1,079 tests Apr 24, 7.9% positive
- 1,598 tests Apr 25, 4.8% positive
- 1,506 tests Apr 26, 1.8% positive